Think you can be a rock star?

Time to get rocked out all over again! Drums are beating and guitars are strumming. They’ve taken a life of their own. The music’s getting louder and the energy’s dynamic. Everyone awaits the coming of a new sensation. And guess what? It could be you!

Mark Burnett Productions and CBS are back with a more exciting season of their hit reality show Rock Star. Dave Navarro and Brooke Burke, once again, join everyone onstage. Along with rock fans from the world over, they will welcome the birth of the music industry’s newest rock star! This time around it’s going to be quite different from the show’s last season with INXS. It’s not just about being part of a great band now.

In the end, someone will take his/her rightful place in a group that’s just on the road to becoming one of the legendary bands in rock history. Yep, you guessed it. This band is completely new, though the ones behind it are, undoubtedly, rock legends.

Lead guitarist and co-writer Gilby Clarke, bassist Jason Newsted, and drummer Tommy Lee come together in true rocked-out fashion to form Supernova. Their styles may differ, but their rock energies collide to make a kind of music that’s going to send the rock world singing and dancing some more.

Gilby Clarke is no stranger to the rock icon status, having been a part of the punk/blues/thrash group Guns N’ Roses for three years. Just the same, Gilby made a name of his own, releasing one successful solo album after another. He’s also collaborated with some of music’s biggest names such as Michael Jackson, Lenny Kravitz, Jeff Beck, and MC5.

Another artist who’s strummed his way to success is six-time Grammy winner Jason Newsted. He’s known best for his performances alongside his former band Metallica. Of course, he’s also worked successfully with Ozzy Osbourne and the group Voivoid.

Tommy Lee is a name that’s hard to forget, especially in the music industry. He’s been known to work magic on the drums for quite some time now, especially when jamming with his former band Motley Crue. Likewise, Tommy has reaped success in both his solo records and autobiography.

These three music legends have come together to form one group that’s destined to rock music waves in the years to come. Now, all they need is to find their lead voice.

Rock Star is now on the lookout for aspiring rockers who think they’re just the lead singer that Supernova is on the hunt for. They’re not just looking all throughout the United States though. The truth is, they’re scouting for promising talent from all over the world! And yes, that includes Asia.

Mark Burnett Productions talent producer Sam Gollestani is one of the many driving forces behind the success of Rock Star. He’s got the beat down and the rhythm figured out. Indeed, Sam is all set to find the next big thing in rock today.

The idea of finding a rock star in Asia has also got Sam and the rest of the crew very excited. In fact, an open-call audition beginning April 1 is underway in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia while everyone else in the Asian region can send in audition tapes by mail.

Think you got what it takes?

I had the privilege of spending some precious moments with Sam Gollestani – that is, on the phone during an interview. He speaks candidly about the makings of a true rock star: "You just have to have it. What I mean by that is you’re born a rock star. It’s an element that you have to have, a style. It has to be natural. You can’t try to be a rock star. You just are a rock star. It’s not just being cool. It’s not just being a talented singer or having great stage presence. It’s so much more than that. Being a rock star, you’re on a league of your own. You’re in a certain level that people only dream of achieving and you just become one. You don’t have to try to be one. A true rock star just has it!"

Now, I guess all that’s left is to find out if you have it. Why don’t you give it a go and send a tape in? You just might be walking along rock legends soon and singing with them, too. So, aim that camera right on yourself and let your true rock star self shine! Good luck!

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You can mail your audition tapes to Rock Star: The Series c/o Star Group Limited, 8th floor, One Harbourfront, 18 Tak Fung St., Hunghom, Kowloon, Hong Kong.

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E-mail the author at ice_wave_42@yahoo.com.